Awesome ride!

I would totally recommend this to anyone looking for a nice, budget-minded road bike. One of my favorite things about it is that it's a modern bike with classic styling. I get compliments on it from college kids riding older 70s and 80s road bikes or cruisers (the heart of Gainesville is University of Florida, so there's a large cycling community here and tons of kids ride bikes), to the spandexed-out A-riders riding Carbon/DuraAce bikes. It's a great bike to ride. I think of it as kind of a sport-tourer. I wouldn't take it to a semi-pro group ride and I wouldn't take it on a multi-day tour. However, it's perfectly in between both of those.

The one thing I dislike about is the tire-size options. The bike comes with 700x23c tires and the frame clearance doesn't allow for anything much bigger. I was barely (and I mean BARELY) able to squeeze full-coverage fenders on it and not without 3+ hours of work/fine tuning. Without the fenders, the biggest you *might* be able to go is 25c. If commuting on thinner tires isn't suitable to your area then I'd pass this bike for something that allows for some fatter meats. The other thing is the bike feels a bit awkward when loaded down. I had the same rack and carried the same daily load (one pannier, >10lbs) on my old mountain bike and the bike loaded versus unloaded wasn't as significant as it feels on this bike. I noticed a difference in bike feel by just bolting up the empty rack with nothing on it. The frame has rack/fender eyelets but I don't think the bike was designed with these things in mind. You can make them work, but other bikes handle these things better. I've included current pics taken just today.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_G2mfbxwICTo/TH...2/CIMG0188.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_G2mfbxwICTo/TH...2/CIMG0197.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_G2mfbxwICTo/TH...0/CIMG0200.jpg

Please pardon the image quality. It's from my Palm Pre.

Just sold this guy:

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_hSZo5vjiPmQ/TH...A/s800/Jed.JPG

Took off the lights and computer first... also kept my favorite pedals. He cleaned up pretty nice for a 17 year old.


Special thanks to Nutcase and SSX for their product reviews - helped me with my decision on a replacement!

:thumb:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_hSZo5vjiPmQ/TH...%20%282%29.JPG

Masi Speciale Commuter
Got some VO hammered fenders and lights I'll be putting on in October.

So nice when a "new" bike comes with fenders and a chain guard and an internal hub gear...

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikepics/1977R20a.JPG

Love it, love it! IMHO the sexiest machine in the Masi lineup (and they make a lot of sexy bikes).

I have 3 bikes I regularly use for commuting depending on the weather, my cargo needs, my moods and astrology...

Surly Karate Monkey, 9sp IGH SRAM and SRAM generator hub:

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a.../Photo0009.jpg
http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a.../Photo0004.jpg

Raleigh International, 1973...Original Campagnolo NR, 28c Paselas, Honjos...the only thing I changed from the original parts are the cooler drops.

[IMG]file:///C:/Users/KEYSTO%7E1/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-3.png[/IMG]
http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a.../Photo1210.jpg

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a.../Photo1211.jpg

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a.../Photo1212.jpg

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a.../Photo1213.jpg

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a.../Photo1214.jpg

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a.../Photo1215.jpg

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a.../Photo1216.jpg

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a.../Photo1217.jpg

Finally...1991 Koga-Miyata Traveler, 28c (I forget what's on there now, I think Continentals), mostly a Shimano 9 sp 105 triple group, Dia Compe GC cantis (the coolest cantis EVER, they even have quick release), tubus racks and Honjos...

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a.../Photo1279.jpg

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a.../Photo1280.jpg

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a.../Photo1281.jpg

Finished my Nashbar build. Full Ultegra grouppo except the crank which is a Bontrager Race Lite. It's more of a road bike with lights :lol:

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...t/IMG_1894.jpg

http://i936.photobucket.com/albums/a.../Photo1216.jpg

Just let me wipe away a little drool here...

Nice build! Congrats!

Seeing you guys bike...makes me want to get a new bike =)

I have to stop checking this thread as I have far exceeded my capacity and need to do some catch and release to bring me back down to an acceptable number of bikes... and make room for a Raleigh International... if I can find one.

:)

If you ever wanna get rid of a Twenty... let me know.
-Gene-

I'm biased...but the International is just an incredible bike. The ride is fantastic and having a light, fast commuter like this is PERFECT for me. The only complaint is that it's geared a bit high to use racks effectively or to hit really nasty hills on longer rides. That's of course my fault for using a corncob on the back. In an ideal world, I'd build this with compact cranks and a little spacing in the rear.

That looks like a nice Twenty. I haven't seen many of those around here. Only seen 2 total ever.

I am really wanting to get a nicer vintage road bike now too after seeing some of these especially that International. I know of a place that has lots of sweet old bikes at a cheap price. I have too many bikes to add any though especially after recently adding a single-speed mountain bike to the herd.

Bike crack!
I'm at 6 complete and 2 disassembled right now LOL

Typical Sight
 

It's a bit brighter in this photo than it would be at 5:45am, although this might be typical of my commute home....

None the less my neighbors get to see this at least a couple of times a week. I guess I need to invest in some Eye Bleach for all of them :)
Attachment 167228

Eye Bleach? I don't think so mate. It's a good sight to see someone ride the bike to work. Who thinks otherwise hasn't gotten the virus yet and is missing out on several fronts.

I was referring to the fat guy in spandex. Not the activity :)

Just love it! And your other R20s too!

I picked this Surly 1x1 with a better-than-decent Marzocchi fork up on ebay last month. I had it converted from SS to a 1x7. I added the racks and aero bars with my radio strapped to that. Took it out on the trail today for the first time since the re-build. The thing rode great.It's got a 32t up front. It could be bigger. I'll deal with that at another time. It's got some kind of wide Weinman rim in the rear, with a Rhyno-lite XL rim up front w/ XT hubs-2.5 tires. Maxxis in the rear and Specialized up front. What a deal! Next up is a new paint job.
I'm hoping to make this my new Winter Commuter. Add some big 2.7's with perhaps some home-made studs. Awesome!

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4136/...a4b19023_z.jpg

I had the LBS install a DMR tug nut /mechanical hanger. That and had the
rear wheel re-built. New shifter, new chain, new cassette w/ a Alivio rear de. They did a good job.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4093/...046dee1b_z.jpg

So was I ;) I weigh around 180 at 6'2", and looking at you I think I may just have a bit more fat on the bones than you.